Does the United States have left-hand traffic?

No. The United States uses right-hand traffic in all 50 states and the District of Columbia; the notable exception within U.S. jurisdiction is the U.S. Virgin Islands, where vehicles drive on the left. Most other inhabited U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa, follow right-hand traffic. Below is how this arrangement came to be and what travelers should know.

Where traffic keeps right vs. left across U.S. jurisdictions

The following list outlines the driving side used in the United States and its inhabited territories, highlighting the one major exception.

• 50 states and the District of Columbia — Right-hand traffic
• Puerto Rico — Right-hand traffic
• Guam — Right-hand traffic
• Northern Mariana Islands — Right-hand traffic
• American Samoa — Right-hand traffic
• U.S. Virgin Islands — Left-hand traffic

Across U.S. soil, the prevailing rule is to keep right; only the U.S. Virgin Islands diverge by driving on the left, reflecting a distinct historical legacy.

Why the U.S. Virgin Islands drive on the left

The U.S. Virgin Islands inherited left-side driving from their era as the Danish West Indies, prior to transfer to the United States in 1917. The islands retained the left-hand rule, which remains the standard today. Despite this, most vehicles there are imported from the mainland United States and have the steering wheel on the left, creating a left-hand traffic setting with primarily left-hand-drive cars.

What it means for visitors and residents

If you plan to drive in the U.S. Virgin Islands, keep the following points in mind to stay safe and within the law.

• Most cars are left-hand-drive; take extra care with lane positioning, especially when turning or overtaking.
• Speed limits are posted in miles per hour, and U.S.-style road signs and traffic laws apply, including seat-belt and DUI enforcement.
• Approach roundabouts and intersections cautiously; look to the right first and yield as marked.
• Expect narrow, winding roads in places; watch for pedestrians and scooters near resort and harbor areas.

Being mindful of these differences helps drivers adjust quickly, especially if they are accustomed to right-hand traffic on the mainland.

Special cases inside the mainland

While road traffic in the states keeps to the right, a few transportation and roadway arrangements may appear to contradict the pattern without changing the rule for everyday drivers.

Transit and roadway quirks

These examples illustrate operational exceptions that do not affect the general right-hand traffic rule for motorists.

• Some commuter rail corridors in the Chicago region, such as Metra lines inherited from the former Chicago & North Western and the Metra Electric District, operate trains left-handed due to historical signaling and platform layouts.
• Reversible express lanes on certain highways may switch direction by time of day, but drivers still keep to the right within the open direction of travel.
• Contraflow bus lanes or protected cycle tracks can place certain vehicles on the opposite side briefly; general traffic remains right-hand.

These are design or scheduling choices in specific systems and do not represent left-hand road traffic for the public.

Historical background

Keep-right conventions in the United States date back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries, when states such as Pennsylvania (1792) and New York (1804) enacted rules for right-side travel. With the rise of motor vehicles, right-hand traffic became universal across the states. The U.S. Virgin Islands, acquired from Denmark in 1917, maintained their left-side driving, creating today’s sole U.S. jurisdiction with left-hand traffic.

Vehicle configuration and imports

Steering wheel placement typically matches a region’s traffic side, but there are practical exceptions relevant to U.S. drivers.

• In right-hand traffic areas (the U.S. mainland and most territories), vehicles are predominantly left-hand-drive.
• Right-hand-drive vehicles are legal in many states and are commonly used by rural postal carriers and some specialty imports.
• In the U.S. Virgin Islands, many vehicles remain left-hand-drive despite driving on the left, which can reduce visibility when passing and requires extra caution.

This mismatch in the U.S. Virgin Islands reflects market realities rather than a policy preference, as most vehicles are sourced from the continental U.S.

Practical takeaway

The United States does not have left-hand traffic in the states or Washington, D.C.; the major exception is the U.S. Virgin Islands, where roads follow left-hand traffic. Travelers should prepare for this difference when visiting the islands, while expecting right-hand traffic in all other U.S. jurisdictions.

Summary

Answer: No—America drives on the right, with the U.S. Virgin Islands as the key exception driving on the left. Most other U.S. territories also keep right. Historical precedent explains the split, and visitors to the U.S. Virgin Islands should take extra care navigating left-hand traffic, often in left-hand-drive vehicles.

Is the USA left-hand or right hand?

About two thirds of the countries in the world drive on the right including the USA, China and Russia. Canada used to drive on the left but changed to the right to make border crossings with the United States of America more manageable.

Which country doesn’t have left-hand traffic?

Canada, Myanmar, Gibraltar, British Indian Ocean Territory, Belize, and a few countries in West Africa like Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia all switched to driving on the right hand side of the road.

Are right-handed cars legal in the US?

Yes, right-hand drive (RHD) cars are legal to own and operate on public roads in the United States, provided they meet federal safety and emissions standards and can be licensed and registered in the state where they are driven. While no federal law prohibits their use, potential buyers and owners must check individual state regulations and ensure the vehicle’s headlights are properly adjusted for U.S. roads. RHD vehicles are commonly imported, particularly from countries like Japan, and are also used by organizations such as the U.S. Postal Service and for certain construction vehicles.
 
Key Considerations for RHD Vehicles in the U.S.

• Federal and State Regulations: RHD vehicles are generally legal if they comply with federal emissions and safety standards, as well as state-specific registration and titling requirements. 
• Headlights: The headlights on RHD vehicles must be converted or adjusted to have the correct beam pattern for driving on the right side of the road to avoid blinding oncoming drivers. 
• Safety and Driving: Driving an RHD vehicle in the U.S. can be challenging due to the driver’s seat being on the passenger side. 
  • Passing: It can be difficult to see oncoming traffic in the left lane, making it challenging to pass safely. 
  • Parking: When parked at the curb, the driver exits into the traffic lane, rather than the sidewalk, which can be dangerous for passengers. 
• Common Uses:
  • Imports: Many are imported from countries that drive on the left, such as Japan. 
  • Specialized Vehicles: The U.S. Postal Service uses RHD vehicles to reach mailboxes from the curb. 
  • Enthusiast Vehicles: RHD cars are popular with automotive enthusiasts who appreciate them for their authenticity or unique driving experience. 
• Importing Older Vehicles: Vehicles 25 years or older are often exempt from certain Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), which makes importing these older models a viable option for RHD enthusiasts. 

Does America use left-hand traffic?

Yes, most vehicles in the United States are left-hand drive because the U.S. drives on the right side of the road, a practice that became standard in Colonial America. The driver’s position on the left provides better visibility of oncoming traffic and makes it easier to safely pull out from parallel parking. An exception is the U.S. Virgin Islands, where drivers travel on the left, but cars still have their steering wheels on the left, which is a unique situation.
 
Why the U.S. uses left-hand drive cars:

• Right-hand travel: The U.S. adopted right-hand driving early on, with New York instituting the rule for public highways in 1804. 
• Visibility: Having the steering wheel on the left allows drivers to better see oncoming traffic that is coming from the left. 
• Historical factors: The tradition of right-hand driving may stem from large, bulky Conestoga wagons and a resistance to British customs, which favored left-hand traffic. 

Where it’s different:

• U.S. Virgin Islands: Opens in new tabThis U.S. territory drives on the left side of the road, though their vehicles still have the steering wheel on the left. 
• Specialized Vehicles: Opens in new tabA small number of specialized U.S. vehicles, such as mail delivery vehicles, may be built with right-hand drive to improve functionality for the driver. 

Where to see right-hand drive cars: 

• In countries like the United Kingdom, Japan, India, and Australia, which drive on the left side of the road.